Archive for the ‘Dragon boating’ Category

2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event

Wednesday, October 12th, 2011

2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event Poster

Once again I am in charge of media relations for The Gingerbread House Event and I just sent out our first official professional press release to nearly 30 media outlets in Kelowna. Just in case I missed any or if you don’t catch this information on one of those mediums, here is all the info and how you can find out more about this marvellous event. (PS I must confess that I didn’t write this myself, my wonderful husband did the wonderful write-up :)

2nd Annual
Gingerbread House Event
Bringing Gingerbread to Life
In Support of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs

PRESS RELEASE

Kelowna is Bringing Gingerbread to Life in Support of the
Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs

Kelowna, BC – The 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event would like to invite the public to a family fun day at the Parkinson Recreation Centre on November 27th, 2011. The event is in support of the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs Cool Moves Program. The Cool Moves program promotes healthy eating and physical activity for kids. As a result of participating in games and activities of this program, participants will also gain cooperation and team building skills as well as confidence and feelings of belonging.

Gingerbread House Event logo

The core goals of the event are:

  • Create a family friendly event and atmosphere that promotes fun
  • Provide funds and food to the community through the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Ensure that anyone can participate regardless of their financial situation

The Event has three categories to provide different challenges for different people: Open, Packaged Kit and Chef Category. The Open Category allows entrants to build their house at home and bring it to the event. The Packaged Kit is where each entrant receives and builds a packaged gingerbread house kit right at the event. It’s an excellent option for the family to come for a fun event during the day.

Family Packaged Kit Category

Family Packaged Kit Category Photo by Ivy Mills

The Chef category allows cooks and chefs to enter their creation in a bragging rights competition.

Chef Category Delta Grand 2010 Entry

Chef Category Photo by Ivy Mills

Registration in the Gingerbread House Event is available now at www.gingerbreadevent.com. Registration is $20, $25, or $30 depending on category and age. Rules and registration forms are available at our website.

Dozens of entries and hundreds of public viewers are expected at the event. The Gingerbread House Event awards over $1000 in cash and prizes. A public choice award will be presented this year to the most popular entry as chosen by the viewers.

Want to see the houses without building your own gingerbread house? No problem, the gingerbread houses are available for public viewing from 3-6pm. Viewing is $2/adult, $1/child or free with a non-perishable food donation to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs Christmas Hampers.

Gingerbread House Event handbill Come enjoy this Family Event Nov 27, 2011 at Parkinson Rec Centre

Note to potential sponsors: There are still sponsorship opportunities available. You can get involved by: Becoming a Major Sponsor ($350+), sponsoring a Packaged Kit for those unable to afford the entry fee ($25), renting an 8’ table to display or sell your products/services ($50), or donate items for the raffle.

About The Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs: The Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs is a leading provider of programs to children and youth that support the healthy physical, educational and social development for over 6,000 young people and families each year throughout the Okanagan valley. Each centre creates a safe, supportive environment where children and youth experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life. Our programs focus on an individual’s strengths and capabilities, and all programs embrace the principles of equality and inclusion. They help young people grow healthy, happy and safely from birth to adulthood, and are a resource and support for parents throughout their family’s involvement with us.

About the Red Hot Chili Paddlers Dragon Boat Team: The Red Hot Chili Paddlers are a co-ed recreational dragon boat team with the Kelowna Dragon Boat Club. The team is comprised of fun loving, active, outgoing paddlers from their 20’s to their 60’s from many walks of life who share one goal: To Have Fun! In 2010 the Red Hot Chili Paddlers undertook the planning and production of the 1st annual Gingerbread House Event with a vision of creating a premier event, a Kelowna family tradition, and an annual fundraiser to support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, and the local community.

Red Hot Chili Paddlers Dragon Boat Team

Presented by the Red Hot Chili Paddlers Dragon Boat Team
www.gingerbreadevent.com

Clinton Dixson, Chairman 250.575.3906

Link to press release on PRLOG:
http://www.prlog.org/11691789

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gingerbreadEvent
Twitter: @gingerKelowna

Gingerbread Competition

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

I love it when people prove to me that dreams can come true. My fiancé has been dreaming of a Gingerbread House Building Competition for the last 4 years and this year he is making it happen.

Our vision is for this  premier event to begin a Kelowna tradition and annual competition to support the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club and the local community. With the support from local chefs, we aim to display some of the amazing talent found in the Okanagan Valley.

Our event takes place on Sunday, November 21st at Parkinson Recreation Centre in Kelowna, BC. The packaged kit category commences at 10am and at the same time people can start dropping off their open category creations. The public viewing will take place from 5-8pm. See the full schedule…

If you’d like to participate in this event, please visit the Registration page of our site. Sponsorship and donation opportunities are also available. Partial proceeds from this event will be donated to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs and all of the non-perishable food donations we receive will go towards their Christmas hampers.

All of the information you need to become a sponsor, a participant or a spectator can be found on our website at: gingerbreadcompetition.ca.

Gingerbread House Building Competition

Let us know if you have any questions by emailing Clinton at chairman at gingerbreadcompetition dot ca.

We would be pleased to hear any feedback you have including where you first heard of this event. If you live in the Okanagan you may have heard ads on the radio from our media sponsors at SilkFM, SunFM and AM1150! Have you seen our website, our twitter page, posters, facebook page, flyers, or facebook event? Or is this the first place you are reading about it?

facebook eventAre you on Facebook? Visit our facebook page!

Hope to see you there!

Ready, set, paddle…

Friday, June 1st, 2007

My dragon boat team pauses to stretch in the sun.

Dragon boat racing originated in China and traditional dragonboats seat up to 50 paddlers. The smaller dragon boats at the Dragon Boat Club in Kelowna, BC fit 20 paddlers seated two by two plus a caller in the front and a steerer in the back.

As the caller drums or chants, the paddlers plunge their paddles into the water, pulling the boat swiftly along with their rhythmic synchronized strokes.

Unlike the sideways motion of the paddles in canoeing or kayaking, dragonboat racers lift their paddles straight into the air and reach their paddle straight ahead. Like pistons in an engine the paddles lift vertically up and down in unison, powering the boat ahead.

The two paddlers in the front of the boat are called the “strokes”. Along with the drummer, they set the pace for the whole boat. When their arm goes up, everyone’s arm goes up. When they bury their blade, everyone buries their blade, deep in the water.

“The water is your friend” chants the coach. As you slice your paddle into the water the break catches your blade, allowing you to pull the boat up to your paddle and then just as your outside arm is about to bend you “release” and your paddle pops out of the water.

This is just in time for you to twist your body towards your partner and reach your paddle ahead, all while keeping your paddle vertical and not bobbing your head.

“Timing” reminds the coach. We can’t forget to watch up and across the boat so that all our paddles strike the water in one beat. The adrenaline rushes and the sun beats down and the water splashes your arms. Splash. Make that, the water splashes your whole body…

“What’s the most important part of dragon boat racing?” asks the coach. “Focus” yells one. “Timing” chants another.

“Having fun!” cheers the coach.

We are called the Red Hot Chili Paddlers. If you are interested in sponsoring our team in exchange for advertising exposure, you can download a PDF of sponsorship opportunities here.

“Paddle away, paddle away, paddle away now,
Paddle away, paddle away, paddle away now.”